"Learning to accept and thrive within conflict is the common thread of my latest album and of our lives. When a person realizes that they are a necessary part of processes that are so huge, that understanding the great value of their own impact would be impossible, is an interesting and amazing awakening. Everyone matters. Everything matters. We cannot separateourselves from what seems to be in tune with the positive and negative energies of the universe. This is "Everything at Once." We instinctually and independently interpret beauty, love, and processes that bring about good feelings. We intuitively discern the opposite. We are all participants in evolution, and without the conflicting forces exerted by nature, evolution will cease to exist."
My favorite part of this writing talks about how no one can truly separate themselves from the discourses that are happening everywhere. Simply being exposed to discourse makes one involved in the discourse itself. Decisions are made every second in your own body concerning what actions best suit the survival and thriving of itself. Most of these decisions happen purely by instinct and are simple non-conflicted decisions.
However, as one builds up relationships, and a collection of life experiences around them, decisions about what is good and bad can become much more complicated, creating internal discourse. Thus one's internal discourse is reflected outward showing a sense of not always knowing what the "right" thing is to do.
This is where I think the best discourse thrives, because not everyone knows everything. We all have our bits and pieces of memory and value that we bring to the table, and we exchanged information and experience. Things do not always agree. People have motives and agendas that they wish to put in place for their own benefit. Big governments are some of the most complex machines ever created by man. They don't give the people all the information that they know. Discourse thrives in this situation as well. When you can't truly know something, it can only be debated and theorized without the sufficient evidence needed to prove something, anything.
I'll finish with a hopeful quote from president Kennedy, talking about how important it is for knowledge to spread, for the benefit of the American people. He states just how necessary discourse is, and why it is essential to the fair functioning of our American Government.
"It is the unprecedented nature of this challenge that also gives rise to your second obligation--an obligation which I share. And that is our obligation to inform and alert the American people--to make certain that they possess all the facts that they need, and understand them as well--the perils, the prospects, the purposes of our program and the choices that we face.
No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding; and from that understanding comes support or opposition. And both are necessary. I am not asking your newspapers to support the Administration, but I am asking your help in the tremendous task of informing and alerting the American people. For I have complete confidence in the response and dedication of our citizens whenever they are fully informed."
1 comment:
This is an interesting start to be sure. I enjoyed your use of situated knowledge, however, remember that discourse is a social function in this case. While we cannot separate ourselves from discourse, we are concerned here with the discourse that occurs externally.
And, while no President should openly admit he fears scrutiny, what are the effects when citizens are given free reign to critique the discourses of their government? Is that always a true "good"?
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